REVIEW

Glen Campbell reimagines some of his hits

AP review by Michael McCall

[July 30, 2013]  BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- Glen Campbell, "See You There" (Surfdog)

At 77 and stricken with Alzheimer's disease, Glen Campbell looks back at a lifetime of work on "See You There." He revisits classics such as "Wichita Lineman" and "Galveston" with a contemplative, late-night feel, stripping down to small-combo arrangements based on brushed rhythms, gently sustained organ notes and twangy, single-note, electric guitar.

The vocals mostly were recorded a few years ago, around the time Campbell recorded "Ghost on the Canvas," released in 2011. His voice is pure, strong and as soulful as ever, with only sporadic moments where his tone wavers. "Gentle on My Mind," for example, finds Campbell's voice sounding damp and slurred in places.

Overall, though, this is a testament that Campbell has remained a potent interpreter of good songs. Proof comes not only in how he hits the notes of a classic like "Hey Little One," but in the emotional layers he brings to songs written in recent years. In "What I Wouldn't Give" and "There's No Me ... Without You" he acknowledges the melancholy of aging while assuring loved ones there is something better beyond this life for all of them.

[Associated Press; By MICHAEL McCALL]

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